Machine for bending or flanging sheet metal.



No. 7||,47|. Patnted 061. 2|, I902. v

A. E. CHAMBERS & L. H. BU LLARD. MACHINE FOB BENDING 0B FLANGING SHEETMETAL.

(Application filed June'fi, 190?.)

(No Model.) 2 8heets$haet l.

% WITNESSES INVENTORS I u I,

M a as M No. 7|l,47|. Patented Oct. 21, I902.

A. CHAMBERS & L. H. BULLABD. MACHINE FOB BENDING OB FLANGING SHEETMETAL.

(Appliation filed June 6, 1902.)

'2 Sheets8heat 2.

(N0 Model.)

INfENTORS #6561 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHURE. CHAMBERs AND LEW Is H. BULLARD, OF DETROIT, MICHI GAN,ASSIGNORS To MICHIGAN STEEL BOAT COMPANY, OF DETROIT,

MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR BENDING OR FLANGING SHEETMETAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '71 1,471, datedCctober 21, 1902.

Application filed J'nne 6, 1902. Serial No. 110,444. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it new concern;

Be it known that we, ARTHUR E. CHAMBERS and LEWIS H. BULLARD,citizens ofthe United States, residing at the city of Detroit, in the countyofWayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Bending or Flanging Sheet Metal, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for bending orflanging sheet metal.

. second, to provide an improved adjustable line 4 4. of Fig. 1.

feed and bending roller to accommodate variations in the thickness ofthe metal; third, to provide a machine for the purpose in which themetal formed or bent is gradually formed into the desired shape, so thatthe fiber of the same is not injured or destroyed thereby.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description tofollow.

We accomplish the objects of ourinvention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is-clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying'the features of our invention is fully illustratedin the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, inwhich Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the features of ourinvention, showing the arrangement of parts, it being illustrated with astrip of metal passing through the same. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailsectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 1,showing the means of autom atically holding the sheet metal to beoperated upon into the machine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectionalView taken on a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Fig. 1, the rolls andshafting being shown in full lines. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View ofthe bendingrolls a 1), taken on a line corresponding to Fig. 5 is anenlarged de-.

tail view of the bending-rolls ct" 1)", showing their relation to eachother, taken on a line corresponding to line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of a strip of metal as it appears Whenremoved from themachine after being passed part way through the rolls or while beingoperated upon.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout the seyeral views, and all of the sectional views are takenlooking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of thesection-lines.

Referring tothe lettered parts of the drawings, A is a table or supportfor the machine which carries the bending-rolls,which are centrallylocated on the table. B is the frame.- work. Supported in adjustablebearings in the frame B is a series of shafts O O C, and below these ina second or corresponding series are shafts D D D. The shafts O and Dand C and D are geared together by coggears, as e'e. The machine isdriven by a pulley F on the shaft 0.

Keyed or otherwise secured on the shafts O O O are rollers a a a",respectively. Each of these rollers has a flange at one end, the flangeon the roller (1 being formed at an angle of about forty-five degrees,that on the flange a .at about sixty degrees, while that on the flange ais formed at right angles to the same. Keyed or otherwise secured on theshafts D D D are rollers b b b, respectively. These rollers are cut awayor formed at an angle corresponding to the angles of the flanges ontheir corresponding rollers a a a". The bearings for the shafts areadjustable to and from its corresponding shaft by the setscrews 11 aboveand 4' below. Each pair of shafts is held normally separated byspringpressure, coiled springs 4" being arranged between the bearings.

The rollers b b b are preferably elongated to form supporting and feedrolls for the metal as it passes through thebending-rolls, andpressure-rolls J are provided to hold the metal to the'rolls. The rollsJ are supported byadj ustable bearings, suitable set-screws,as n,beingprovided for the purpose of adjustment. The rolls J are-held normallydownward'under spring tension by the springs n", so that the metalpassing through the same is held firmly to theirolls.

A guide E is provided to guide the metal I into the machine in a propermanner to be engaged by the bending-rolls, and a second guideG, which isadapted to reciprocatein a groove in the table, is provided to hold themetal firmly against the guide E and to hold the same from lateralmovement While in the machine. This guide is provided with a roller G,which is adapted to rest against the edge of the metal,and a handle Gfor controlling it. This guide is held under constant tension by aweightH", secured to it by the cord H, which passes over the pulley H.

In operation a strip of sheet metal, as I, is fed into the machine fromthe right and is engaged by the first set of bending-rolls a b. Theserolls turn its edge about sixty degrees, as at I. (See Fig. 6.) It isthen engagedby the bending-rolls a b, which gives its edge a furtherturn to about forty-five degrees, as at 1". The rollers a Z)" thenengage the same, and its edge is turned into the position shown at I,which is at right angles. It is apparent that the angle may be madeWhatever is desired by changing the angle of the flanges of thebending-rolls.

IVe have illustrated and described our im-,

proved bending-machine in the form which we believe to be the mostsimple and satisfactory, though we are aware that it is capable ofconsiderable structural variations without departing from our invention.

Having thus described ourinvention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a machine for bending or flangingsheet metal, the combination of a frame B having an open side; asuitable support therefor; shafts O, O, C and D, D, D arranged in pairsand supported in suitable adjustable hearings in said frame; springsbetween said bearings whereby they are held normally apart;bending-rolls a, a, a having flanges formed at varying angles;bending-rolls b, b, and Z2 cut away at varying angles'to correspond tothe flanges on said bending-rolls a, a a; pressure-rollers Jsupported insuitable bearings above said rolls 1), b, b and held normally againstthe same by springpressure; stationary guide E to guide the metal to bebent into the machine; tensionguides G for holding said metal inposition in the machine; gear connections for said shafts; andmeans forrotating said shafts, all coacting substantially as described and forthe purpose specified.

2. In a machine for bending or fianging sheet metal, the combination ofthe frame B having an open side; a suitable support therefor; shafts O,C, O and D, D, D arranged in pairs and supported in suitable adjustablebearings in said frame; springs between said bearings whereby they areheld normally apart; bending-rolls a, a, a, having flanges formed atvarying angles; bending-rolls b, 17,

(2 cut away at angles to correspond to the flanges on said bending-rollsa, a, a"; pressure-rollers J supported in suitable bearings above saidrolls 1), b, b and held normally against the same by spring-pressure; atension-guide to hold the metal to be bent into the bending-rolls; gearconnections for said shafts; and means for rotating the said shafts, allcoasting substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

3. In a machine for bending or flanging sheet metal, the combination ofthe frame B havingan open side; a suitable support therefor; shafts O, OC and D, D, D" arranged in pairs and supported in suitable adjustablehearings in said frame; springs between said bearings whereby they areheld normally apart; bending-rolls a, a, a having.flanges formed atvarying angles; bending-rolls b, I),

h cut away at angles to correspond-tothe flan es on said bendin -rolls aa a"; ressure-rollers J supported in suitable bearings above saidrollers 17, Z), I) and held normally against the same by spring-pressuregear connections for said shafts; and means for rotating said shafts,all coacting substantially as describedand for the purpose specified.

4. In a machine for bending or flanging sheet metal, the combination ofa frame B having an open side; a suitable support therefor; shafts O, O,C and D, D D arranged in pairs and supported in suitable bearings insaid frame; bending-rolls a, a CL having flanges formed at varyingangles; bendingrolls 1), b, 1) cut away at varying angles to correspondto the flanges on said bendingrolls a, a a; pressure'rollers J supportedin suitable bearings above said rolls 1), b b and held normally againstthe same by spring.

pressure; stationary guide E to guidethe metal to be bent into themachine; tensionguides G to hold the metal in position in the machine;gear connections for said shafts; and means for rotating said shafts,all coacting substantially as described and forthe purpose specified.

5. In a machine for bending or flanging sheet metal, the combination ofa suitable frame; a suitable support therefor; shafts O, G, C and D, D,D arranged in pairs and supported in adjustable bearings in said frame;bending-rolls a, a, at having flanges formed at increasing angles;bending-rolls b, b, I) cut away at angles to correspond to the flangeson said rolls a, a, a; suitable gear connections for said shafts;stationary guide E for guiding the metal to be bent into the atincreasing angles; bending-rolls b, b, 1)

bending-rolls a, ct, at" having flanges formed at increasing angles;bending-rolls b, b, I)" cut away atangles to correspond to the flangeson said rolls a, a, ct"; suitable gear connections for said shafts;stationary guides E for guiding the metal to be bent into the machine;tension-guides Gfor holding the metal in position in the machine; andmeans for rotating said shafts, all coacting substantially as describedand for the purpose specified.

7. In a machine for bending or flanging sheet metal, the combination ofa suitable frame; a suitable support therefor; shafts O, C, O and D, D,D" arranged in pairs and supported in suitable bearings in said frame;bending-rolls a, a, a" having flanges formed cut away at angles tocorrespond to the flanges on said rolls a, ct, ct"; suitable gearconnections for said shafts; tension-guides G for holding the metal inposition in the machine; and means for rotating said shafts all coactingsubstantially as described and for the purpose specified.

S. In a machine .for bending or fianging sheet metal, the combination ofa suitable frame; a series of bending-rolls arranged in pairs supportedin adjustable bearings in'said frame, and held normally apart bysuitable springs, one roll of each pair having a flange at its outerend, and the other beveled at an 1 said bending-rolls, as specified.

angle to-correspond to such flange, the angles of the flanges of theseveral pairs increasing in degree, whereby the metal passingtherethrongh is gradually formed into the desired shape in passingthrough the successive rolls;

v means for operating said rolls; and a tensionguide for holding themetal to be bent into 9. Ina machine for bending or Hanging sheet'metal,the combination ofa suitable frame; a series of bending-rolls arrangedin pairs supported in suitable hearings in said frame, one roll of eachpair having a flange at its outer end, and the other beveled at an angleto correspond to such flange, the angles of the flanges of the severalpairs-increasing in degree, whereby the metal passing thereour handsandseals in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR E. CHAMBERS. LEWIS r1. 'BULLARD.

WVitnesses: V O. G. BULLARD, J. E. TISCHNER.

through is gradually formed into the desired

